Men's Mental Health: End Stigma

Societal expectations and workplace culture can often create unique barriers for men when it comes to acknowledging and addressing their mental health. This virtual course, “Men’s Mental Health: End Stigma in the Workplace,” part of NAMI Maine’s The Way Work Should Be initiative, is dedicated to dismantling these barriers and fostering an environment where men feel safe, supported, and empowered to prioritize their mental wellbeing. Participants will explore the specific stigmas men face, learn to recognize the often-unspoken signs of mental health challenges in themselves and their male colleagues, and gain practical strategies for initiating supportive conversations. Through insightful video lessons,informative written materials, and reflective short quizzes, this course aims to equip individuals of all genders to become advocates for men’s mental health, break down harmful stereotypes, and cultivate a truly inclusive and understanding workplace. Upon successful completion, participants will receive a certificate, recognizing their commitment to ending stigma and promoting mental wellness for everyone.

Focus Topics:

• Understanding Men’s Mental Health: Exploring common mental health conditions experienced by men (e.g., depression, anxiety, PTSD) and how symptoms may present differently.
• The Impact of Societal Norms and Masculinity: Examining traditional masculine norms and how they contribute to stigma, reluctance to seek help, and the suppression of emotions.
• Recognizing the Signs: Learning to identify subtle and overt indicators of mental health struggles in men, including changes in behavior, mood, performance, and communication.
• Breaking Down Stigma in the Workplace: Identifying common workplace stigmas related to men’s mental health and strategies for challenging and changing these perceptions.
• Starting Supportive Conversations: Developing communication skills to approach male colleagues with empathy and concern, offering support without judgment.
• Creating a Male-Ally Culture: For all participants, understanding how to be an effective ally for men’s mental health in the workplace; for male participants, how to support peers.
• Promoting Help-Seeking Behaviors: Discussing the importance of professional help and company resources (EAPs, mental health benefits) and how to encourage their use.
• Workplace Stressors and Men’s Mental Health: Identifying specific workplace factors that can disproportionately affect men’s mental health and exploring coping mechanisms.
• The Role of Leadership and Company Culture: How managers and company policies can actively support men’s mental health and create a culture of openness.
• “The Way Work Should Be” for Men: Connecting the course content to NAMI Maine’s broader initiative to ensure workplaces are mentally healthy and stigma-free for all genders.

Careers Where This Course Could Help:

This course is beneficial for everyone in the workplace, as creating a supportive environment for men’s mental health benefits all. It is particularly impactful for:

• Men in All Professions: To gain self-awareness, coping strategies, and feel empowered to seek help and support others.
• Managers, Supervisors, and Team Leaders: To better understand and support the mental health of their male employees and foster inclusive team environments.
• Human Resources Professionals: To develop and promote policies and programs that effectively address men’s mental health and reduce stigma.
• Occupations Traditionally Dominated by Men: Such as construction, manufacturing, engineering, emergency services (police, firefighting, paramedics), military/veterans in civilian roles, and transportation.
• Healthcare Professionals: To better understand and address the mental health needs of male patients.
• Educators: To help shape healthier concepts of masculinity and mental wellbeing from an early age and support male colleagues.
• Anyone committed to fostering a more inclusive, equitable, and mentally healthy workplace culture.